Grand Theft Auto 2 retrospective: A simpler time for the iconic series

Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of the most anticipated video games of its generation, with preview footage suggesting it will take Rockstar Games' crime series to new heights in terms of both graphics and gameplay.

The next installment promises to be a visceral powerhouse, but the Grand Theft Auto series has far humbler roots, beginning life as a top-down action title in 1997 and retaining this format for its 1999 sequel Grand Theft Auto 2.

GTA 2 harks back to a simpler time for the series, when developer Rockstar North (then DMA Design) was concerned only with stirring up controversy and delivering guilty pleasures, rather than reshaping genres.

The original GTA received mixed reviews, but still went on to become a bestseller due to the notoriety it stirred up. Given the commercial success of its predecessor, GTA 2 did not stray too far from the formula it inherited.

Debuting on PC and PlayStation, GTA 2 took place against a metropolis referred to only as Anywhere, USA - a retrofuturistic cess pool divided up between various criminal gangs. Players took control of a street thug named Claude Speed, who became embroiled with each of the seven factions.

GTA 2 took place from the same overhead viewpoint as the original and was the same concoction of car-jacking, top-down shooting and mission-based action. The developers were content to leave much unchanged, but many of the new concepts the game introduced went on to become series staples.

For instance, Speed could carry out missions for each of the rival gangs, and working with one had implications on how the others perceived him. Side missions, such as earning fares as a cab driver, were also introduced to the fold.

GTA 2 featured significantly improved computer AI. Pedestrians would take public transport around the city and even engage in fights with one another from time to time. Other car jackers and muggers kept players on their toes, and the inclusion of the armed forces, special agents and SWAT teams upped the ante when the player's wanted level hit critical mass.

Live-action footage shot in New York served as GTA 2's introduction sequence, starring EastEnders actor Scott Maslen as Speed. The intro was pieced together from an eight-minute short feature filmed to promote the game, which has since been made publicly available via Rockstar's website.

The series' tradition of in-game radio stations was in play in GTA 2, with users able to switch between them at will when behind the wheel of a vehicle. Each area of the city had its own stations and the tunes they pumped out reflected the region's characteristics.

GTA 2 was not a critically-acclaimed game like its successors, but it did achieve high sales figures due to the level of infamy it garnered. Review scores were generally mixed, but the game's commercial success paved the way for ports to new platforms, namely the Sega Dreamcast and Game Boy Color.

Although GTA 2 is far from the best entry in Rockstar's long-running crime series, it is of some historic significance. Not only did it mark the end of the 2D era of GTA, it introduced several of the series' hallmarks, such as expanded side missions and working for rival gangs.

The game is available to purchase today on Steam as part of the Grand Theft Auto Complete Pack, a highly-recommended collection for fans seeking a recap on this iconic series ahead of the eagerly-anticipated GTA 5.

Do you have any fond memories of Grand Theft Auto 2? Post a comment below!